If you have a child with special needs or another relative in your care who has a disability, have you considered what will happen to your loved one if you make no plans for their future care when you die or are no longer able to provide the care and supervision he or she requires? It doesn’t matter if your loved one is three-months old or 70-years-old. Whether you are a couple or a single parent in your 20’s, 30’s, 50’s or 80’s, or if your annual income is $25,000 or $25,000,000. What matters, is the fact that Special Needs Planning is a responsibility that must be addressed now, before it is too late. Your plan should be based on the abilities and needs of your child today, not what you think or hope their abilities will be in the future.
These are only a few of the many questions that I hear everyday from parents just like you. Yes, this is a very scary subject and frankly, future planning for your loved one with special needs can be overwhelming. But let’s face reality. Chances are your child with special needs will probably survive you. If you have done no planning, what will happen to your loved one when you die? Who will take care of him or her? Will there be enough money? Scared? Concerned? You should be. I have heard every excuse. No one is more important than planning for the future of your loved one with a disability. Don’t disappoint them by not making sure they will have a safe and secure future when you are no longer here.
Right now, you are probably asking yourself, where can I get the answers to my questions and concerns? Who do I turn to? How do I even begin the planning process? What is it going to cost? How much time will it take? These are all valid questions, not valid excuses. I have answers to all of your questions. But you have to take the first step. You must make the commitment to plan for the future of your loved one. And, it has to be done today, not six-months or 6-years from now, because no one has a crystal ball to see into the future. Not taking action today is just another excuse. Read Part 2 tomorrow, but begin your commitment now by visiting Serenitas Special Needs Planning website at www.SerenitasSNP.com, or call 818-231-6759
If I NeedHelp makes wearable iD and offers a free Caregiver controlled special needs registry for our loved ones who may wander or need assistance in a critical moment.